Dr. Mark Prasarn is a medical specialist in orthopedic trauma and spine surgery. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital (MHOSH), Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center (TMC), and the University of Texas (UT) Physicians. Dr. Prasarn graduated from New York University (NYU) School of Medicine and then he performed his residency at Jackson Memorial Medical Center. He is rated highly by his patients. He is in-network for Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Amerigroup Star, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold, in addition to other insurance carriers. He has received the following distinction: Texas Rising Stars.

Dr. Steven Flores practices orthopedics/orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. His professional affiliations include Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital, the University of Texas (UT) Physicians, and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. Dr. Flores is a graduate of Baylor College of Medicine. His residency was performed at a hospital affiliated with Northwestern University. On average, patients gave him a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Amerigroup Star, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Flores accepts. New patients are welcome to contact his office for an appointment.

Dr. Shiraz Younas is a pediatric orthopedics/orthopedic surgery specialist in Houston, TX. He graduated from Aga Khan University Medical College and Baylor College of Medicine and then he performed his residency at a hospital affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Younas is an in-network provider for several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Amerigroup Star, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold. He has received professional recognition including the following: Texas Rising Stars. He is professionally affiliated with Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital (MHOSH), the University of Texas (UT) Physicians, and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Dr. Robert Fullick is an orthopedics/orthopedic surgery and sports medicine specialist. His professional affiliations include Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital (MHOSH), and the University of Texas (UT) Physicians. Before performing his residency at Harvard Orthopaedic Combined Residency Program, Dr. Fullick attended the University of Texas Medical School at Houston for medical school. Dr. Fullick takes Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Amerigroup Star, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold, as well as other insurance carriers. Dr. Fullick has received the distinction of Texas Rising Stars.

Dr. Stacey Martin works as an orthopedist. Dr. Martin honors Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Amerigroup Star, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold, in addition to other insurance carriers. She attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She is professionally affiliated with Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center (TMC).

Spinal surgery is the subspecialty that uses surgery to restore the normal function of the spine when things go wrong due to trauma, disease, or other disorders. There are many ways that the spine can begin to hurt or lose the ability to move properly, and surgery is not always necessary. However, when surgery is needed, there’s no one more qualified for the job than a spine surgeon.

Spinal surgery can be considered a subspecialty of either orthopedics or neurosurgery. That means that a spine surgeon may take either path to this specific career, training first as either an orthopedist or a neurosurgeon. Orthopedics deals mainly with the structural issues of the back and spine: the bones, muscles, and joints. Neurosurgery deals mainly with issues of the brain, nerves, and spinal cord. So when choosing a spine surgeon, it is sometimes possible that your surgeon’s background will have a bearing on your particular diagnosis. However, in most cases, it doesn’t matter. Either an orthopedist-spine surgeon or a neurosurgeon-spine surgeon can handle the majority of spine surgeries. What is more important is that some spine surgeons specialize in specific areas of the spine, such as lumbar surgery or cervical surgery. In that case, it is important to connect with a surgeon who is experienced with your particular need.

Some of the surgeries performed on the spine include:

Correction of spinal deformities, such as scoliosis

Spinal fusion

Minimally invasive spine surgery, including decompression surgeries such as discectomy and laminectomy

The spine is a very complicated piece of your body’s machinery, and a very necessary part of your movement and function. It holds you up and allows you to move. Having a working spine is important, and having a skilled surgeon when you need spinal surgery is critical.

Neurosurgery is the highly skilled specialty devoted to the surgical treatment of issues affecting the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It is similar to the specialty of neurology, which also treats disorders of the nervous system. Even though there is some overlap, neurosurgery focuses on the surgical treatment of nervous system disorders. However, not every neurosurgery job means surgery -- neurosurgeons may also provide a diagnosis, interpret imaging and test results, or provide non-surgical treatment, depending on the nature of the illness.

Neurosurgeons treat nervous system disorders such as:

Traumatic brain injuries

Brain or spine tumors

Blood clots in the brain

Hydroencephalitis

Aneurysms or stroke

Seizures

Spinal cord injuries

Carpal or cubital tunnel syndromes

Repair of severed nerves

Infections of the brain or spinal fluid

Because the nervous system is both so delicate and so complex, neurosurgery has one of the most rigorous and competitive medical education programs. After college and medical school, it is common for a neurosurgeon to require 7-10 additional years of intense training.

New discoveries in this field allow neurosurgeons to heal and accomplish more than ever before, and they are now able to treat many injuries and illnesses that were once fatal.